Justification:Aetobatus flagellum is a small (to 47 cm disc width), uncommon, inshore Indo-West Pacific eagle ray which is highly susceptible to a variety of fishing methods in regions where the level of exploitation of marine resources is extremely high. This species has a disjunct distribution off Pakistan, India, Indonesia (Java), and southern China, occurring primarily on the inner continental shelf. It is suspected to have limiting life history parameters similar to other myliobatid rays (including low fecundity). Very few specimens are landed from any fisheries, but all of its known range is very heavily exploited. This species is assessed as EN under the criteria of A2d+3d+4d due to the very high (and increasing) level of fishing pressure in inshore regions where it occurs, which is of great concern given that it is a naturally very uncommon species with limiting life history characteristics.

Occurs primarily inshore on the inner continental shelf. Reproductive biology, age and growth and dietary compositions are unknown for this species. Suspected low fecundity as with other myliobatids, for example Aetobatus narinari and Aetomylaeus nichofii, which bear litters of up to four offspring (Last and Stevens 1994, Compagno and Last 1999).

Highly susceptible to a variety of inshore demersal fisheries, including trawls, gillnets and trammel nets. All individuals caught are retained in most areas. Irregularly landed in the fish markets of Jakarta by trawlers (W. White, unpublished data). This species is recorded off Indian coastal waters in the intensive demersal fisheries that occur in that region (Hanfee 1999). There is very high level of exploitation on the habitat that this species occurs in throughout its entire range.

None at present. Careful monitoring of catches of this species throughout its range need to be carried out into the future due to this high level of exploitation that occurs in its known range.

The development and implementation of management plans (national and/or regional e.g., under the FAO International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks: IPOA-Sharks) are required to facilitate the conservation and sustainable management of all chondrichthyan species in the region. See Anon. (2004) for an update of progress made by nations in the range of A. flagellum.